PRESS RELEASE - BOB CONAWAY for SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY - 2014

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
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Inspired in part by the "Kumbayah" Kamala Harris & Mike Ramos fund raiser yesterday [and by the utter failure of Mikes Ramos over his past two terms to even get to trial the Charter School & Colonies case, the sentencing favoritism for "Friends of Mike Ramos" & the continuing abuse of the DA's office's charging authority to target people based on their ethnicity, incomes and politics, Bob Conaway decided to join the race for the top cop spot.
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Ramos has allowed environmental and civil rights crimes to be committed in our communities, and those committing those crimes to act with impunity. Mike Ramos shows a resistance to the spirit of change and reform required by AB 109 (the Realignment Legislation). It makes no sense to talk about drug seizures and the community impact from drugs on the street while ignoring the poisoning of our air and water by corporate America, the illegal foreclosure of homes by financial institutions and code enforcement harassment of small businesses. It makes no sense to make people of color serve time in county jails for offenses while "Friends of Mike Ramos" pay fines or are allowed to walk.  How Mike Ramos let Mitzelfelt get away with his false statements on campaign statements (hiding some of his developer money sources), current Supervisor James Ramos' failure to report timely and under penalty of perjury six figure contributions to his college board campaign and how Kamala Harris did not prosecute Mike Ramos for misleading (and therefore false) statements of his 700 forms are all examples of taking people off the prosecutorial target range for political reasons.

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In the last election cycle Bob, the endorsed democrat came within 4% of forcing a runoff with Ramos despite being outspent over 25+  so money and glitcy fund raisers notwithstanding, this may be, the Good Lord willing and assuming Ramos does not trump up some charges against him or Bob's clients, a race for the books.
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Bob Conaway"

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BUDGET PROCESS DISCRIMINATES AGAINST SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY--See the facts...

Oct 21, 2013
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports "reorganization" (closure as to entire category of cases & resulting access denial) while building new buildings for other counties across the state - why do we get the hoze?? 
www.dailybulletin.com/government-and-politics/20131021/san-bernardino-county-court-cases-to-be-reorganized-when-center-opens
The Superior Court of San Bernardino County released a "reorganization" plan (clever substitute for more loss of  locations and service) for when the new Justice Center in downtown San Bernardino opens which:
1. Shuts down Barstow Court July 1, 2014;
2. Shuts down Victorville Court except for family law matters May 1, 2014;
3.  Removes ALL civil cases from all the courthouses and pushes them to San Bernardino's NEW "Justice Center", effectively shutting down all courthouses in the County for civil litigants and
forcing people to travel from areas upwards of 2-3 hours to get to courthouses in areas with known violent street gangs, parking problems and poor support services;
4. Rancho Cucamonga's family law cases get moved to the new "Justice Center" in San Bernardino
5. Cases of small claims, landlord tenants and traffic/non-traffic infractions from the San Bernardino; Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga districts will be heard in Fontana;
6. West Valley Superior Courthouse in Rancho Cucamonga will only hear West End criminal cases.
7. Felony and misdemeanor cases in Fontana will be reviewed to determine which courthouse - San Bernardino or Rancho Cucamonga - is better equipped to hear them.
8. The Rancho Cucamonga courthouse will also have temporary hearings on both civil and domestic violence restraining order matters.
9. and more to come ???


Oct 7, 2013
Dedication of New South County Justice Center in Porterville
With over 300 people in attendance, there was standing room only at the dedication ceremony for the new Tulare County courthouse in Porterville, set to open on Oct 15.
Porterville Recorder article 1, Porterville Recorder article 2, Visalia Times-Delta article

Sept 20, 2013
Groundbreaking for New Kings Courthouse in Hanford
More than 100 community leaders and justice partners braved triple-digit temperatures to celebrate the start of construction of the new courthouse in Hanford for the Superior Court of Kings County.
Hanford Sentinel article

Sept 9, 2013
Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse Opens in Long BeachVast improvements in access to justice await first-time court visitors at the new courthouse in Long Beach, the first in the U.S. to be built using a unique delivery method called performance-based infrastructure.
Los Angeles Times article

July 16, 2013
New Santa Clara Family Justice Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
Santa Clara County residents celebrated the beginning of construction of their new courthouse in San Jose.  San Jose Mercury News story

July 1, 2013
Richard E. Arnason Justice Center Wins Architectural Award
The Richard E. Arnason Justice Center in Pittsburg for the Superior Court of Contra Costa County was recently awarded the 2013 Excellence Award, the highest honor given by the American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture for Justice. The project will appear in the group's Justice Facilities Review.
May 3, 2013

New North Butte County Courthouse Groundbreaking Ceremony
Butte County residents celebrated the beginning of construction of their new courthouse in Chico.
Apr 9, 2013

New Yolo County Courthouse Groundbreaking Ceremony
Yolo County residents celebrated the beginning of construction of their new courthouse in Woodland.
Apr 2, 2013

Old Solano Courthouse Renovation Groundbreaking Ceremony
Solano County residents celebrated the beginning of renovation of their historic courthouse in Fairfield.
Mar 11, 2013

More SMASH Unit Activity in Adelanto tonight?

At Mavericks Stadium, more cops were in SMASH units than locals in uniform. On the heels of Appointed Sheriff McMahon's forum at SEBA last Thursday's night in San Bernardino, he unleashes a SMASH unit for press and messaging (I be tougher than the other guys). Interesting. One of the things at the forum was talk about overtime, budget limitations...whatever happened to community policing?  Could all this be a dodge to the question of why the prison refit using AB109 money is $20 million over budget?

FONTANA: Four arrested in $6 million drug bust-anything missing??

FONTANA: Four arrested in $6 million drug bust
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Hmm its no coincidence this happens in advance of Mike Ramos' fundraiser with Kamala Harris this coming week [https://www.facebook.com/events/675051655840634/] with General Kamala being the "keynote" speaker? The only problem is the suspicion the cash reported for the quantity is light for drug busts in some other counties' experience (or the street value is massively overstated), especially for the powerful La Familia level of doing business. What is interesting is one commenter on the Press Enterprise blog saying the half the cash and drugs are missing from the seized stash ii if true where's General Holder when you need him? Nothing like splashy fundraisers to deflect the fact that former County Supervisor & Assessor Bill Postmus, Jr pled to a multiple felony sheet is still running around free waiting for his testimony duties to be done, the Charter School scandal is in its 6th year without a disposition and oh yeah, the Colonies litigation is being strangled due to a combination of overcharging, the County and AG's office being overwhelmed by some good lawyering by former federal judge Larson, cookie crumble tactics and arguably prejudicial delays. The careers of Mike Ramos' and Kamala Harris' seem almost intertwined--one has to wonder why.

DA Candidate Grover Merritt Maybe Needs Some Research.....

In one of Grover's [Merritt] statements to the Press Enterprise (who in the past has had a love affair with Michael Ramos by giving him warm fuzzy press interviews and look for more of them with Kamala Harris' support of Ramos), he refers to (certain) special units as being unnecessary. At least one of them (the work comp fraud unit) is a result of earmarked funding from the State Insurance Commissioner (I think Garamendi started it) as I suspect some of the others may be. While I agree that the special units are used to issue press releases to promote Mr. Ramos' management of the DA's office, some of them are creatures of the state agencies' budgetary process, but with that said, it's a good subject area to discuss--too bad Ramos campaign will prevent Ramos from commenting directly.

New Sheriff Candidate in San Bernardino for 2014??

Victorville- This blogger has been advised that a veteran of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department may be announcing his intent to run for San Bernardino Sheriff. Stay tuned!!

John Coffey Has Expressed Interest in Running for the Assembly Again!

Barstow - John Coffey announced today to this blogger that he will run again for the Assembly Seat (CA-33rd AD) held currently by Tim Donnelly.

2014 San Bernardino County Sheriff Race--Could it be closer call than convention would think??

Sheriff John McMahon (San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors' appointed top cop) has had a couple of campaign kickoffs (good for him).  To this blogger , the most revealing fact to date [picked up by the Colton City News in their June 27, 2013 edition] is the fact that not only is he endorsed by District Attorney Michael Ramos, but he is using Michael Ramos' political consultant from the 2010 election (to "manage the campaign"), David Ellis of Delta Partners, LLC. Ellis is one of the best, so why would McMahon need him with the blessing of  his "created" incumbency and a low turn out election that tends to favor conservatives? Could it be that McMahon's online degree from Union Institute & University be the type of qualification people might be concerned about? Could it be that he was forced on the citizens by a Board of Supervisors (like Mitzelfelt was)? Could it be people are frustrated with the lack of answers on his involvement in the POST certification scandal?
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We live in strange times for sure and with his one announced opponent (Paul Schraeder) promising to "protect your rights in every way possible, amongst those being your Second Amendment Rights, Your Due Process Rights, Your Right to Privacy & Your Right to Life and Property" and wearing an "Oath Keeper" [www.oathkeepers.org] shirt one of the times I heard him speak (so presumably he is a member?), I for one would like to hear more and even have a couple televised debates at say the County Board of Supervisors facilities perhaps moderated by the local League of Women Voters?
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2014 San Bernardino County District Attorney Field of Candidates Developing?

Who is running for DA in 2014 in San Bernardino County? Well Ramos has announced he will, a former litigant (Grover Merritt)against the County DA for wrongful discharge (reinstatated & $300,000 wealthier) is rumored to be running (per sources within the Los Angeles Daily Journal) and Frank Guzman who apparently claims he was targeted by people close or friendly to Ramos prior to the last election cycle has said he will be running (per the San Bernardino Sentinel if he secures $350,000 to run -- its not clear if that was personal money or raised funds). With 2 kids in college Guzman may not be able to afford the paycut if he won and with the former litigant vs the DA's office (if he is still with the DA's office), one has to wonder how much he can ethically do or say by still being an employee of the DA's office campaign-wise. Interesting stuff. Too bad the turn out will be in the mid to low 20% range for a June election (which means that the race will be decided by 11-13% of registered voters). Kamala Harris is coming to Ramos' fundraiser on the 24th, not a good move with what is happening for her career hopes in this blogger's view.